Bernie broke it down
During the first Democratic presidential debate of the year on Tuesday, one moment stood out above all others.
Bernie Sanders was asked what really amounted to a trick question. His answer was bound to either piss off all of conservative America, or the passionate women and men behind the Black Lives Matter movement. The entire panel was asked, via a video submission, to basically choose between Black Lives Matter and All Lives Matter.
Bernie nailed the answer. Watch it below, then I'll share some thoughts with you.
Wow.
Listen, I'm not one to get happy over words or peanuts thrown my way, but Bernie absolutely nailed this answer without even a hint of hesitation. What's particularly powerful about his answer is that I know he didn't get there on his own.
Bernie was interrupted at rallies and events, confronted online, and eventually met with several groups of activists to discuss the very issues—including the arrest and death of Sandra Bland—that produced his beautifully informed answer. Not only that, but it wasn't canned or rehearsed. Bernie meant what he said.
Regretfully, the candidates pivoted away from the real question soon after Bernie nailed his answer, so we didn't really get a direct take from Hillary on this. With that said, it was disappointing that the only focus on issues that matter to the Black Lives Matter movement was a philosophical question about the words, instead of the substance of what we are fighting for.